Art, Craft & Design

The subject of Art, Craft and Design has an important roleto play in the curriculum

Like no other subject does it encourage creativity, visual awareness, manual skills, lateral thinking, problem solving and activities of the rightbrain hemisphere – that side of the brain which is intuitive, artistic and creative.

Art is a very basic human form of expression. In the form of small figures and cave paintings art constitutes the oldest evidence of human activity, dating back 30 000 years. Without these artefacts we would have no evidence of what our forebearers engaged in.

Art, Craft and Design is an option subject at Gort Community School.

Over the 3 year period of the Junior Cycle students explore the following areas:

Drawing

Painting

3-D

Graphic Design

Crafts such as Pottery, Calligraphy, Bookcraft

Digital Media

Culture Studies

For the duration of the Junior Cycle students have 4 class periods of 40 minutes each. These are usually timetabled as two double classes.

In Year 3 of Junior Cycle students do an Art Project. At the begining of October, they are given themes by the State Examination Department. Using one of these themes they will – over a period of 7 months – develop works of art in 3 areas of study: 3- D, craft, and a picture or graphic design. For each area they will submit preparation, support studies and a finished piece for examination. In addition to the project, students sit an invigilated exam which consists of an object drawing and a figure drawing. This exam takes place at the start of May. Students then have no further examination as part of their Junior Certificate, therefore having more time available for the study of their other subjects.

For the Senior Cycle, Art, Craft & Design is also an option subject.

The practical areas are basically the same as for the Junior Cycle but in addition, there is the study of Art History (Irish and European) and Art Appreciation (Art and Design in the world around us)

The Leaving Certificate in Art consists of the following practical exams, which take place in May:

Still Life or Imaginative Composition

Craft

Figure Drawing (2 poses)

The Art History exam takes place in June as part of the general Leaving Cert exam